Acropolis Now

Last updated

Acropolis Now
Genre Sitcom
Created by
Directed by
Starring
  • Nick Giannopoulos
  • George Kapiniaris
  • Simon Palomares
  • Mary Coustas
Theme music composerGeorge Kapiniaris
Opening theme"It's a Sweet Life"
Country of originAustralia
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons5
No. of episodes63
Production
Executive producers
  • Ian Bradley
  • Gary Fenton
Producers
  • Stanley Walsh
  • Peter Herbert
  • Oscar Whitbread
Running time30 minutes
Production company Crawford Productions
Original release
Network Seven Network
Release9 August 1989 (1989-08-09) 
4 November 1992 (1992-11-04)

Acropolis Now was an Australian television sitcom set in a fictional Greek cafe, called the "Acropolis Cafe" in Melbourne that ran for 63 episodes broadcast from 9 August 1989 to 4 November 1992 on the Seven Network. It was created by Nick Giannopoulos, George Kapiniaris and Simon Palomares, who also starred in the series. They were already quite well known for their comedy stage show, Wogs out of Work . The title is a nameplay on the film Apocalypse Now . Each episode was 20 minutes in length and filmed in front of a live audience. [1] [2] [3]

Contents

Synopsis

Jim's (Giannopoulos) father asks him to run the family business, the Acropolis café, when he suddenly leaves Australia to return to his homeland Greece. The series centres on the activities of the cafe staff. Greek Jim Stefanidis, is the immature owner and his best friend, Spaniard Ricky Martinez (Palomares) is the sensible manager (seasons 1-2 only). Memo (Kapiniaris) is the traditional Greek waiter, Liz is the liberated Australian waitress. Skip is the new cook from the bush, naïve to wog culture but more accomplished in Greek cuisine than Jim, and Manolis is the stubborn, incompetent, drunk cook from the old cafe. The show's humour arises from the clash of cultures and beliefs.

Jim's hairdresser cousin Effie, played by Mary Coustas, became a hugely popular and enduring character during the run of the show. Coustas later reprised the role for several TV specials and series including Effie, Just Quietly , an SBS comedy/interview show, and Greeks on the Roof , a short-lived Greek-Australian version of the British television show The Kumars at No. 42 .

Episodes

Series overview

SeriesEpisodesOriginally released
1 119 August 1989 (1989-08-09)
2 132 August 1990 (1990-08-02)
3 1321 February 1991 (1991-02-21)
4 1313 February 1992 (1992-02-13)
5 1312 August 1992 (1992-08-12)

Series 1 (1989)

No.TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal release date
1"Old Bar... New Bar" Ted Emery Nick Giannopoulos, George Kapiniaris & Simon Palomares 9 August 1989 (1989-08-09)
2"The Proxy Blues"Ted EmeryNick Giannopoulos, George Kapiniaris & Simon Palomares16 August 1989 (1989-08-16)
3"The Martinez Inquiry"Ted EmeryNick Giannopoulos, George Kapiniaris & Simon Palomares23 August 1989 (1989-08-23)
4"The Trouble with Mothers"Ted EmeryNick Giannopoulos, George Kapiniaris & Simon Palomares30 August 1989 (1989-08-30)
5"It's Academic"Ted EmeryNick Giannopoulos, George Kapiniaris & Simon Palomares6 September 1989 (1989-09-06)
6"It's Not Unusual"Ted EmeryNick Giannopoulos, George Kapiniaris & Simon Palomares13 September 1989 (1989-09-13)
7"The Key to Her Heart" Pino Amenta Nick Giannopoulos, George Kapiniaris & Simon Palomares20 September 1989 (1989-09-20)
8"Easter Greek Style"Pino Amenta Mary Coustas, Nick Giannopoulos, George Kapiniaris & Simon Palomares23 August 1989 (1989-08-23)
9"Three Skips and a Joey"Pino AmentaNick Giannopoulos, George Kapiniaris & Simon Palomares4 October 1989 (1989-10-04)
10"Bucklovers"Pino AmentaNick Giannopoulos, George Kapiniaris & Simon Palomares11 October 1989 (1989-10-11)
11"Writer's Block"Pino AmentaNick Giannopoulos, George Kapiniaris & Simon Palomares18 October 1989 (1989-10-18)

Series 2 (1990)

No.TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal release date
1"Cappuccino Catastrophe"Pino AmentaSimon Palomares2 August 1990 (1990-08-02)
2"Double or Nothing"Pino AmentaChris Anastassiades & Nick Giannopoulos9 August 1990 (1990-08-09)
3"Black Ain't Black"Pino AmentaChris Anastassiades & Nick Giannopoulos16 August 1990 (1990-08-16)
4"Olives Ain't Olives"Pino AmentaSimon Palomares23 August 1990 (1990-08-23)
5"St. Memo's Fire" Peter Andrikidis George Kapiniaris30 August 1990 (1990-08-30)
6"Ms Acropolis"Pino AmentaChris Anastassiades & Nick Giannopoulos6 September 1990 (1990-09-06)
7"Carmen I'm Too Bizet"Pino AmentaSimon Palomares13 September 1990 (1990-09-13)
8"Ring of Confidence"Pino AmentaChris Anastassiades & Nick Giannopoulos20 September 1990 (1990-09-20)
9"Jobs for the Girls"Pino AmentaGeorge Kapiniaris27 September 1990 (1990-09-27)
10"Shakespeare Was a Greek"Pino AmentaGeorge Kapiniaris4 October 1990 (1990-10-04)
11"My Sister Aphroula"Pino AmentaGeorge Kapiniaris11 October 1990 (1990-10-11)
12"The Taxman Cometh"Pino AmentaSimon Palomares18 October 1990 (1990-10-18)
13"Ricky Sings the Blues"Pino AmentaChris Anastassiades & Nick Giannopoulos25 October 1990 (1990-10-25)

Series 3 (1991)

No.TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal release date
1"Harry Who Didn't"Pino AmentaChris Anastassiades & Nick Giannopoulos21 February 1991 (1991-02-21)
2"The Goddess"Pino AmentaGeorge Kapiniaris28 February 1991 (1991-02-28)
3"A Fistful of Cabana"Pino AmentaPino Amenta, Chris Anastassiades & Peter Herbert7 March 1991 (1991-03-07)
4"On the Waiterfront" Kendal Flanagan Chris Anastassiades & Nick Giannopoulos14 March 1991 (1991-03-14)
5"Teenage Mutant Ninja Greeks"Kendal FlanaganChris Anastassiades & Nick Giannopoulos21 March 1991 (1991-03-21)
6"The Kid"Kendal FlanaganChris Anastassiades & Nick Giannopoulos28 March 1991 (1991-03-28)
7"The Best of Enemies"Kendal FlanaganChris Anastassiades & Nick Giannopoulos4 April 1991 (1991-04-04)
8"Throw Memo from the Plane"Kendal FlanaganJulian Glavacich, George Kapiniaris & Alan Keaughran11 April 1991 (1991-04-11)
9"Snow Job: Part One"Kendal FlanaganChris Anastassiades & Nick Giannopoulos18 April 1991 (1991-04-18)
10"Snow Job: Part Two"Kendal FlanaganChris Anastassiades & Nick Giannopoulos25 April 1991 (1991-04-25)
11"Midnight Expresso"Kendal FlanaganSimon Palomares2 May 1991 (1991-05-02)
12"Back in the U.S.S.R"Kendal FlanaganMarc Gracie, Peter Herbert & Simon Palomares16 May 1991 (1991-05-16)
13"Acropolis Law"Kendal FlanaganChris Anastassiades & Mary Coustas23 May 1991 (1991-05-23)

Series 4 (1992)

No.TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal release date
1"Oh Suzanna!"Peter AndrikidisElizabeth Coleman13 February 1992 (1992-02-13)
2"Crimes of Fashion"Mark PiperRay Boseley20 February 1992 (1992-02-20)
3"Phantom of the Acropolis"Mark PiperJulian Glavacich, George Kapiniaris & Alan Keaughran27 February 1992 (1992-02-27)
4"21 Today"Julie Bates & Aleksi VellisMary Coustas5 March 1992 (1992-03-05)
5"The Letter"Julie Bates & Aleksi VellisKevin Nemeth12 March 1992 (1992-03-12)
6"Wheel of Shame"Elizabeth CrosbyGeorge Kapiniaris19 March 1992 (1992-03-19)
7"Full Metal Jerks"Julie BatesNick Giannopoulos & Aleksi Vellis26 March 1992 (1992-03-26)
8"Four Eyes"Kendal FlanaganNick Giannopoulos & Aleksi Vellis2 April 1992 (1992-04-02)
9"Devil in Disguise"Kendal FlanaganChris Anastassiades & Elizabeth Coleman9 April 1992 (1992-04-09)
10"The King and I"Kendal Flanagan John Ruane 16 April 1992 (1992-04-16)
11"Desperately Seeking Effie"Kendal FlanaganMary Coustas23 April 1992 (1992-04-23)
12"Deaf Jammed"Kendal FlanaganChris Anastassiades30 April 1992 (1992-04-30)
13"The Last Temptation"Kendal FlanaganChris Anastassiades & Nick Giannopoulos7 May 1992 (1992-05-07)

Series 5 (1992)

No.TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal release date
1"Dream Baby"Mike SmithRay Boseley12 August 1992 (1992-08-12)
2"Love"Mike SmithKevin Nemeth19 August 1992 (1992-08-19)
3"Hair Razors"Mike SmithChris Anastassiades, Peter Herbert & Aleksi Vellis26 August 1992 (1992-08-26)
4"The Other Man"Mike SmithChris Anastassiades2 September 1992 (1992-09-02)
5"The Lars Supper"Mike SmithRay Boseley & Lachy Hulme 9 September 1992 (1992-09-09)
6"Mum's the Word"Andrew FriedmanRay Boseley16 September 1992 (1992-09-16)
7"Coward's End"Andrew FriedmanChristine Madafferi23 September 1992 (1992-09-23)
8"The Battle of the Sexists"Andrew FriedmanJulian Glavacich & George Kapiniaris30 September 1992 (1992-09-30)
9"Torn Between Two Lovers"Andrew FriedmanElizabeth Coleman & Peter Herbert7 October 1992 (1992-10-07)
10"Stupidstition"Andrew FriedmanJulian Glavacich & George Kapiniaris14 October 1992 (1992-10-14)
11"Confessions of a Hair Gel Goddess"Andrew FriedmanMary Coustas21 October 1992 (1992-10-21)
12"Here Come the Brides: Part One"Andrew FriedmanNick Giannopoulos28 October 1992 (1992-10-28)
13"Here Come the Brides: Part Two"Andrew FriedmanNick Giannopoulos4 November 1992 (1992-11-04)

Acropolis Now helped popularise the term "skippy" or "skip" to refer to Anglo-Celtic Australians and others of European but non-Mediterranean descent. This term (inspired by the iconic 60's TV series Skippy the Bush Kangaroo ) became popular with Mediterranean-Australians, and to a lesser extent non-Mediterranean people, especially in Melbourne.

Production

The program was produced by Crawford Productions which is now owned by WIN Television.

Characters

Overview

CharacterPortrayed byAcropolis Now
12345
Drimitrius "Jim" Stefanidis Nick Giannopoulos Main
Agamemnon "Memo" Aristotele Hatzidimitropoulos George Kapiniaris Main
Efthimia Francesca "Effie" Stefanidis Mary Coustas Recurring Main
Ricardo "Ricky" Martinez Simon Palomares Main
Elizabeth "Liz" MaloneyTracey Callander Recurring
Gavin "Skip" Farrell Simon Thorpe Recurring
Manolis George Vidalis Recurring
Sophie Sheryl Munks Recurring Guest Recurring
Aphrodite (Aphroula) "Afro" Costadina Afiyenya Hatzidimotropoulos Evdokia Katahanas Guest
Harry (the bouncer)Kris Karahisarlis Guest
Alfredo Nick Carrafa Recurring Main
Suzanna Martin Nicki Wendt Main
Despina Hatzipapadopoulos Georgie Parker Main
Lars LarsonSimon Wilton Main
Julia Katerina Kotsonis Recurring
OlgaChristine Kaman Recurring

Other characters

Awards

The show itself did not win any awards, but Mary Coustas won the 1993 Logie for Most Popular Comedy Performer for her role as Effie.

Home media-DVD release

Acropolis Now has been released as a complete series boxset by Crawfords Online Store. The boxset contains all 63 episodes on a 15 disc set, along with episode synopses and out-takes from episodes as a special feature. [4]

Filming location

Although the Acropolis cafè/hotel was filmed in HSV-7 Studios, the exterior is still standing and looks almost identical to the show. It is located on 251 Brunswick Street, and corner of Greeves Street, Fitzroy, Melbourne, Australia. [5] [ better source needed ]

See also

Related Research Articles

Nicholas Giannopoulos is an Australian stand-up comedian, stage, TV and film actor and film director. He is best known for his comedy stage show Wogs Out of Work alongside George Kapiniaris, the television sitcom Acropolis Now and The Wog Boy film series and has been described as "Australia's leading exponent of "wog" humour".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alex Dimitriades</span> Australian actor (born 1973)

Alex Dimitriades is an Australian television, film and stage actor of Greek descent. He is perhaps best known for his roles as Nick Polides in the 1993 romantic comedy film The Heartbreak Kid and as Nick Poulos in the 1994 television teen drama spin-off Heartbreak High. He won critical acclaim for his role as Ari, a troubled second generation Greek Australian in Head On (1998). He won the Film Critics Circle of Australia award for Best Actor for the role and was nominated nominated for the AFI Award for Best Actor. In 2012, he won the AACTA Award for Best Lead Actor for his role in The Slap.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Greek Australians</span> Australians born in Greece or with Greek ancestry

Greek Australians are Australians of Greek ancestry. Greek Australians are one of the largest groups within the global Greek diaspora. As per the 2021 Australian census, 424,750 people stated that they had Greek ancestry, comprising 1.7% of the Australian population. At the 2021 census, 92,314 Australian residents were born in Greece.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mary Coustas</span> Australian actress and comedian

Mary Coustas is an Australian actress, comedian and television personality and writer. Originally from Melbourne, Coustas often performs as the character "Effie", a stereotypical second-generation Greek Australian prone to malapropisms. She completed a Bachelor of Arts at Deakin University in Melbourne, majoring in performing arts and sub-majoring in journalism.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">George Kapiniaris</span>

George Kapiniaris is an Australian stage, television and film actor and comedian. He is of Greek descent and is best known for his role in popular sitcom Acropolis Now and composed the series' theme song.

Efthimia Francesca Stephanidis, better known as just "Effie", is an outrageous comedic character played by Australian actress Mary Coustas. Coustas depicts a stereotypical second-generation Greek Australian.

Greeks on the Roof was a short-lived Australian television talk show and variety show that ran for 11 episodes on the Seven Network from 1 April to 1 July 2003. It was hosted by the actress/comedian Mary Coustas in character as Effie, a second generation Greek Australian, whom she had portrayed on the sitcom Acropolis Now, and featured her "family" of Greek immigrants portrayed by Maria Mercedes, Angus Sampson as cousin Dimi, Serge De Nardo, and Evelyn Krape.

<i>The Wog Boy</i> 2000 Australian film

The Wog Boy is a 2000 Australian comedy film directed by Aleksi Vellis and starring Nick Giannopoulos, Vince Colosimo, Lucy Bell, Abi Tucker, Stephen Curry, Tony Nikolakopoulos and Derryn Hinch. Whilst the word wog is extremely derogatory in British English, in Australian English it may be considered non-offensive depending on how the word is used, due to reclamation and changing connotations.

<i>Effie: Just Quietly</i>

Effie: Just Quietly was a satirical television series that aired on Australia's Special Broadcasting Service in 2001.

<i>Hercules Returns</i> 1993 Australian film

Hercules Returns is a 1993 Australian comedy film directed by David Parker, starring David Argue, Michael Carman, Bruce Spence and Mary Coustas. The film has a cult following in Australia and other countries. It has been released in DVD format.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Simon Palomares</span> Australian actor and comedian

Simon Palomares is a German-born Australian comedian and actor of Spanish descent. He is best known for his character as cafe manager Ricardo "Ricky" Martinez in Acropolis Now.

Tony Nikolakopoulos is a Greek Australian film, theatre and television actor. He is best known for his work in the films of Nick Giannopoulos, The Wog Boy and The Wannabes, and for his role as Attilio in the television series Scooter: Secret Agent. He has also performed in stage plays, including Cafe Rebetika in 2009.

Barrier Reef was an Australian television series that was first screened domestically in 1971. However, 19 episodes had already premiered on British television on BBC1 between 5 October 1970 and 15 February 1971 and four more aired between 5 April and 3 May 1971 in advance of Australian broadcast.

Wog is a racial slur used to refer, in British English, to black and South Asian people, and, in Australian English, to people from the Mediterranean region. Whilst it is extremely derogatory in British English, in Australian English it may be considered non-offensive depending on how the word is used, due to reclamation and changing connotations.

<i>Wog Boy 2: Kings of Mykonos</i> 2010 film

Wog Boy 2: Kings of Mykonos is a 2010 Australian comedy film directed by Peter Andrikidis, starring Nick Giannopoulos, Vince Colosimo and Costas Kilias. It is the second part of the Wog Boy trilogy, succeeding The Wog Boy (2000) and preceding Wog Boys Forever (2022). It was released in Australia on 20 May 2010 and UK on 7 January 2011. The film received negative reviews.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Australian comedy</span> Australian television series

Australian comedy refers to the comedy and humour performed in or about Australia or by the people of Australia. Australian humour can be traced to various origins, and today is manifested in a diversity of cultural practices and pursuits. Writers like Henry Lawson and Banjo Paterson helped to establish a tradition of laconic, ironic and irreverent wit in Australian literature, while Australian politicians and cultural stereotypes have each proved rich sources of comedy for artists from poet C. J. Dennis to satirist Barry Humphries to iconic film maker Paul Hogan, each of whom have given wide circulation to Australian slang.

Sally Patience is an Australian actress and one of the country's most prominent voice-over artists. She was born in Melbourne and grew up in the city's south eastern suburbs. She attended the Victorian College of the Arts where she trained as a dancer. Sally Patience worked in the dance field for several years before moving into acting and ultimately voice-over work where she continues to work today.

Wogs Out of Work is an Australian play which was written by Nick Giannopoulos, Simon Palomares, and Mary Portesi.

Sooshi Mango is an Australian comedy troupe founded in 2015. The group consists of two brothers, Joe and Carlo Salanitri, and their best friend, Andrew Manfre. Sooshi Mango is best known for their comedy skits, acts, videos, series and live shows, paying homage to their experiences growing up in an Italian family, and around Italians, Greeks, Croats, and other ethnic cultures living in Australia.

Wog Boys Forever is a 2022 Australian comedy film and the third installment in the Wog Boy trilogy. The film is written by the franchise creator Nick Giannopoulos, and directed by Frank Lotito. The film was preceded by two movies in the franchise, The Wog Boy (2000) and Wog Boy 2: Kings of Mykonos (2010).

References

  1. "Acropolis now : Season 1 [DVD]". Archived from the original on 30 April 2016. Retrieved 4 June 2013 via Trove.
  2. "Acropolis now" . Retrieved 4 June 2013 via Trove.
  3. "Australian Web Archive". 23 August 2006. Archived from the original on 24 June 2001. Retrieved 4 June 2013 via Australian Web Archive.
  4. "Acropolis Now on DVD | Crawfords Online Store". Crawfordstore.com.au. Archived from the original on 2 May 2013. Retrieved 4 June 2013.
  5. "Google Maps".